ATTIC ARCHIVE POSTCARDS

The Attic in Union Street produced a set of postcards that were given out to visitors.

They featured some of the correspondents Pete Horobin was communicating with.

Each postcard has the image of a correspondent made entirely from the content of the letters they wrote to each other. These were done using the original cut and paste method, sentences and words physically cut from a page then reassembled and photocopied into these excellent portraits shown above.

So as a wee memento from Retro's recent visit to the Attic, here are the people in the cards above - Chris Horobin (Pete's brother) - Jack Saunders - Stefen Szczelkun - Susan Young - Mark Pawson - Philip Pilkington - Karen Strang - Barry Mitchell.

There is a good 2 part video up on Youtube made in Budapest showing the mountain of material from the Attic Archive they have in storage in the Artpool Gallery.

Boxes and boxes of stuff from Union Street being dipped into!

They go under the title of "From A to A - New Directions" (2 videos).

Here are the links -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUUsa5EQjYE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HppxEPH42c

Courtesy of The Attic Archive.

YES - CAIRD HALL - 1971

Prog rockers, Yes, were on stage at the Caird Hall on 10th October 1971 - along with support act Jonathan Swift.
The artwork on the poster would appear to confirm that this would be before they teamed up with their long time collaborator, graphic designer, Roger Dean.

OOR WULLIE RECORD - 1989

 

Can't remember this on Top Of The Pops - a tribute record to Oor Wullie.

DC Thomson trying to get into the singles charts with a song by The Buchans called "Wullie's Song", out on Wullie's own label too!

Available to buy at record shops or by post.

The mail order advert above was published in the local press in March 1989.

The b-side was a track called "The Rascal" and was performed by Saltcoats Harbour Band.

Wonder why they didn't get Dean & Dawn to record it?

Anyway, you'll all be dying to hear it no doubt - so then, check it out below.

DEAN EASTWOOD eXtras

A couple of items connected to Dean Eastwood, one of Retro's favourite entertainers!

First is a flyer under his real name, Norman Maiden, requesting you to vote SNP, who he was standing for in 1970.

He was still standing for SNP many years later, up until 1988 at least.

From the '80's is another flyer, this one for a kinkier sideline he was involved with - Hotlips Kiss-o-grams!

A variety of characters to choose from, although Dean took it a stage further by presenting himself as a Sing-o-gram, where he would show up dressed as a minstrel.

So it's X for a vote.

And X for a kiss.

Thanks to Stephen Small

ROBERT SCOTT STAMP - 1972

In February 1972, the Royal Mail brought out a set of stamps on the subject of British Polar Explorers, and needless to say, Robert F Scott was included.

I know he himself is not from Dundee or the Retro decades, but his name will always be linked to the city because of the return of the Discovery in the 80's, so I'm going to allow him a guest of honour spot.

Here he was, all dressed up ready to make an appearance on the Sgt Pepper album cover, but he just couldn't escape from that giant spider web in time!

RECORDED DELIVERY - 1970'S

Part of the fun of collecting vinyl records is that moment when you come into possession of a rare recording, and this one here is so rare, it's the only one in existence.

Not that it contains a wonderful song mind you, no, if you recall the item I put up in March 2011 about railway recording booths, then this is an example of the end product.

It dates from the 1970/71 period and was recorded in a booth in Broughty Ferry.

The Calibre Auto Recording was pressed on heavy duty vinyl and is a 6 inch disc rather than the standard 7 inch.

As you may expect from the cheapest recording studio around, the quality of sound is pretty poor, but hey, it's only supposed to be an audio postcard not a chart hit, the idea being that you pop into the station booth with thought of sending someone a message.

So, the background behind the duo on the disc - you know regular Retro contributor Craig Methven, well his brother Jack and his mate Derek, after a couple of pints, popped into the booth to record a message for their fiancees, Judi & Barbara, in Canada. At the end of the day, however, they decided not to send it, but Jack & Derek went over to Canada in 1971 and married the girls in 1972, where they have remained since.

You'll be able to hear a wee Dundee United song at the start but the content after that is a bit hit and miss.

Still a rare wee gem though, and a big thanks to Craig for passing it on.

DEATH CULT - TEAZERS - 1983

Before the Dance Factory made it's nest in Fat Sams, it used to roost at Teazers (Royal Hotel) in Union Street.

Here's an ad for a gig they put on there in August 1983 featuring Death Cult.

This was the bands' in-betweeny phase - first starting off as The Southern Death Cult, then shortening their name to this version, Death Cult, before finally in 1984 chopping it right down to The Cult, and that's when they then went on to be chart bound around the globe.

The gig was actually the live UK debut of the band under this name. Word of it reached journalists, leading to a gig review in the national music press!

You may recall Vex did a gig at the Tayside Bar in 1982 calling themselves Death Cult, but they reverted back to Vex after this lot here became known.

BLUES 'N' TROUBLE - 1980's

Gritty Scots band, Blues 'N' Trouble, played in Dundee many times during the 2nd half of the 80's, at venues such as University and College.

Here's a couple of items pertaining to their Fat Sams gigs.

A flyer for a performance on 21st December 1987 accompanied by a themed disco keeping the R & B sounds flowing.

An advert published in the local press for a stomp on 28 June 1989.

IRON MAIDEN - CAIRD HALL - 1980

A bit of a heavy metal extravaganza for this gig that took place on 12th June 1980 at the Caird Hall.

Top of the bill, Iron Maiden, supported by Praying Mantis, and although it has Colossus on the ticket, they didn't appear on the night.

Also keeping the crowd happy through the evening was metal specialist DJ, Neal Kay.

Thanks to Mark.

COLOSSUS MEMORABILIA PART 2

The first 7 photos were all taken at the Caird Hall in December 1979 when Colossus were supporting UFO.
Not often a support act gets the crowd rushing the stage!
The newspaper article is a review of the same gig, featuring a photo of both Colossus and UFO.
Well when I say review, that may be pushing it a bit! I don't know who the journalist from Mennies was but when someone begins their music review with "I wandered down to the Caird Hall armed with cotton wool...", it may not have been the best person for the job!
The last photo is of Gordon Band at the Camperdown outdoor festival.
So finishing off with a reminder of how the guys sounded back in 79/80, here's another demo track of theirs, a tune called "Make It Last". Typical prog rock ingredients - moody intro, raucous guitar, synth solo, anthem chorus and tempo changes. Get a load of the hyperactive work on the snare and hi-hat!
The 2 days worth of Colossus goodies were from Gordon Band. Cheers!
Thanks too to Bowling Alley DJ, Brian Wilson, for the track.
Click on the review to enlarge.

COLOSSUS MEMORABILIA PART 1

Here we go then - get your denim waistcoats on and let's see your hair flying for this little lot...a few bits & pieces about Dundee prog rockers, Colossus.
Starting from the top...
The band line-up circa 1979/80: Drew Scobie, keyboards - Ronnie Boyd, bass - Pete Caithness, guitar - Mike McIntosh, drums - Gordon Band, vocals.
Next is a review about Colossus winning a stage in a battle of bands called Marketgait Marvels Talent Contest which was held at the Bowling Alley in 1979. This particular round took place on 17th October and featured the other talents of TV21, Legal Aid and Megazones. The final took place on 30th November and included, Lipstick, Friction, Legal Aid, Distorts, and I think I'm right in saying that Colossus won that one too.
3rd item down is an article about a gig at Junction 9.
Then we have an ad from the Tele for a gig at Caird Hall on 17th December 1979 with UFO the headline act and Colossus the support.
Followed by a review of the gig itself. Colossus cheekily dropped a few bars of UFO's most well known tune "Doctor Doctor" into their set before slipping into their own material and causing a bit of a stir with the UFO team behind the scenes!
The wee article after it is for an outdoor do that took place up at Camperdown Park one Easter Sunday in 1980. Colossus were top of the bill that day, and the other acts sharing the stage were - Mafia, Megazones, Abnormal Load, Top Secret, Bow Street Runners and Jim Borland.
Accompanying the article is a photo of the band taken at the Camperdown fest.
The poster is dated 11th April 1980 and again Colossus are the main attraction for an under 18's Heavy Rock Night at the Marryat Hall. Support band was Bonded.
And rounding things off with a promo photo of the guys that they used to give away at their gigs. This collage was assembled by John Maguire who was their manager for a period as well as being manager of the Caird Hall.
I think you should be able to read all the items ok as they are, but if you're struggling, just click them to enlarge.
Big thanx to Gordon Band.

HAVE A SAY WITH RADIO TAY

The top item is a good example of what I was saying earlier about getting an idea down when it hits you. These are the original lyrics to "Radio Tay", the song written by Craig Methven when he and the Scrotum Poles were in an Edinburgh recording studio in 1980. Just scrawled on the back of a flyer that was lying around, with an ad for B & R Rugs on the other side! Radio Tay was one of the tracks on their Revelation vinyl EP which has now gone on to become a bit of a collectors item, almost cult status in fact judging by the amount written about it on the Net! Even just recently word came through that the Revelation EP is to be re-produced by an American company, complete with a replica of the original sleeve insert!

Not a record that would have been played on Radio Tay itself of course, but just a couple of years later, Craig found himself making an appearance on the station along with Jock Ferguson after being invited on to have their say on a show called "Not So Much Kid's Stuff" hosted by Sally Masterson. This was in 1982 when Craig & Jock were doing Cranked Up, a time when the fanzine published a few scathing articles about Radio Tay! So they got a wee guest spot which allowed them to mention a few things about the local music scene that the station didn't touch on.

Radio Tay - so near and yet so far away!

Click on the Cranked Up item to read the large version.

Many thanks to Craig.

GIGS GALORE - EARLY 80'S

Time to catch up with a few gig reviews at various venues from the first half of the 80's.

Starting with Nassau, and a gig that took place at the Tayside Bar in January 1982. This was a funky Glasgow band who were basically refining their set prior to being support act to a couple of well known acts. The review cropped up in the national music press.

Moving onto Jih, also at the Tayside Bar, a gig near the end of '83. Not sure if this was the band's debut gig but it was definitely one of their earliest. However, it turned out to be a night that didn't go down very well with the reviewer!

Another Tayside Bar gig next, this time from mid '83 and featuring Crucial Xylophones who gave us a performance that triggered dancing in the pub. A rare sight for the TSB!

Moving along to the University, with Bow Wow Wow the main attraction, and one I went to. They were very well known by this time and had a packed hall for their lively stage show. This gig was at the end of '82.

A Dance Factory event next and a performance by Talking Drums, early '85. Although the band put on a decent show, it was the Dundee crowd that upset the reviewer (Hilary) on this occasion.

Rounding things off with Plastic Surgery who were doing the biz at Beez Neez in January '85. This time Hilary is well pleased with what she saw!

Click items to enlarge if need be.

SOME QUICK SPURTS STUFF - 1978

"Dundee's most original New Wave band" - yes that's how The Quick Spurts presented themselves in 1978.

Those involved were Colin Ramsay - Gordon Walker - Forrey Rosscraig - George Barrie - with Gerry Mitchell taking over from Abe McIntosh.

The ticket for the Ardler Community Centre gig with Flux as support, took place on 14th April 1978, and the photos under it were all taken at this gig. You've got to smile at the stepladder being part of the stage decor!

At another Quick Spurts gig in St Andrews University, Gerry was dragged off the stage by some bikers and Colin waded in with his guitar to try rescue him! That's one way for your guitar skills to have an impact on your audience I suppose!!

The band split up soon after, the news cropping up in a fanzine called Kingdom Come, and Colin moved down to London where he joined Afflicted.

Big thanks to Colin Ramsay.